Stormwater is water from irrigation, rain or melting snow that does not soak into the ground. It flows from rooftops, over paved areas and bare soil, and across sloped lawns. As it flows, this runoff can collect and transport soil, pet waste, livestock manure, salt, pesticides, fertilizer, oil and grease, leaves, litter and other potential pollutants. A heavy rainstorm isn’t needed to send pollutants rushing toward streams, wetlands and lakes. A garden hose alone can supply enough water

Grisso, Robert

Hay, DeLynn

Jasa, Paul J.

Koelsch, Richard K.

Skipton, Sharon

Woldt, Wayne

English

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Historical Materials from University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Extension 1998 EC98-795 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’s System for Assessing Water Contamination Fact Sheet 17: Improving Stormwater Management at Residential Sites Robert Grisso University of Nebraska at Lincoln DeLynn Hay University of Nebraska-Lincoln, dhay1@unl.edu Paul J. Jasa University of Nebraska at Lincoln, pjasa1@unl.edu Richard K. Koelsch University of Nebraska - Lincoln, rkoelsch1@unl.edu Sharon Skipton University of Nebraska–Lincoln, sskipton1@unl.edu See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/extensionhist  Part of the Agriculture Commons, and the Curriculum and Instruction Commons Grisso, Robert; Hay, DeLynn; Jasa, Paul J.; Koelsch, Richard K.; Skipton, Sharon; and Woldt, Wayne, "EC98-795 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’s System for Assessing Water Contamination Fact Sheet 17: Improving Stormwater Management at Residential Sites" (1998). Historical Materials from University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension. 1478. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/extensionhist/1478 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Extension at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Historical Materials from University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Authors Robert Grisso, DeLynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, and Wayne Woldt This article is available at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/extensionhist/1478 Nebraska’s System for Assessing Water Contamination RiskUniversity of Nebraska Cooperative Extension EC 98-795-SImproving Stormwater Managementat Residential SitesFACT SHEET 17Stormwater is water fromirrigation, rain or melting snowthat does not soak into theground. It flows from rooftops,over paved areas and bare soil,and across sloped lawns. As itflows, this runoff can collectand transport soil, pet waste,livestock manure, salt, pesti-cides, fertilizer, oil and grease,leaves, litter and other potentialpollutants. A heavy rainstormisn’t needed to send pollutantsrushing toward streams, wet-lands and lakes. A garden hosealone can supply enough water.Even if your homesite is noton a waterfront, natural surfacedrainage and constructed stormdrains and sewers convey run-off from your property to anearby body of water or stream.Contrary to popular belief,many storm sewers do notcarry stormwater to wastewatertreatment plants (Figure 1).Polluted stormwaterdegrades our lakes, rivers andwetlands. Soil clouds water anddegrades habitat for fish andStorm sewerDirection ofstorm sewerflowFigure 1. Runoff that flows into storm sewers goes directly to streams and lakeswithout treatment.water plants. Nutrients such asphosphorus promote the growthof algae, which crowds out otheraquatic life. Toxic chemicals suchas antifreeze and oil from leakingcars, carelessly applied pesti-cides and zinc from galvanizedmetal gutters and downspoutsthreaten the health of fish andother aquatic life. Bacteria andparasites from pet waste canmake nearby lakes and pondsunsafe for wading and swim-ming after storms.As many people have dis-covered, stormwater can be aproblem closer to home. It canflow down a poorly sealed wellor an unused well which hasnot been properly decommis-sioned and contaminate drink-ing water. In areas with porous,Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.Elbert C. Dickey, Interim Director of Cooperative Extension, University of Nebraska, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension educational programs abide with the non-discriminationpolicies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.Page 2 FARM*A*SYST FACT SHEET 17sandy soils, pollutants in runoffmay reach groundwater.Across the country, publicofficials are turning their pollu-tion control efforts from waste-water discharges to stormwatermanagement in urban and ruralareas. Stormwater pollutioncannot be treated in the sameway as water pollution fromdischarge pipes, because itcomes from many sources (seetable below). Contaminants arecarried by stormwater from ev-ery street, parking lot, sidewalk,driveway, yard, garden and anyother open area. The problemcan be solved only witheveryone’s help.1. Reducing Pollutants inRunoffStormwater is unavoidable,but its negative effects can bereduced by keeping harmfulchemicals and materials out ofthe runoff. This section reviewspotential sources of contamina-tion and offers ways to minimizethem.Where does stormwater go?The next time you are homeduring a rain (when lightning isnot occurring), head outdoorswith your boots and umbrellaand watch where the rainwatergoes. Or make the best observa-tion possible from inside yourresidence. On a sketch of yourproperty, draw arrows showingthe direction that stormwaterflows off driveways, rooftops,sidewalks and yards. A samplemap is shown in Figure 2. Doeswater soak into the groundquickly, or does it puddle inplaces and flow off lawns anddriveways? Your soil type affectswater infiltration (soaking intothe ground). As you mightexpect, water infiltrates sandysoil quickly but has a hard timeseeping into fine-grained silt orclay soils.Note how far it is to thenearest storm sewer, ditch, wet-land, stream, or body of openwater. Note whether runoffflows onto your land from adja-cent streets, lands, orstormwater systems. If you liveat or near the bottom of a hill,you may have special problems.Be sure to go out during morethan one rain to get a good un-derstanding of runoff flow dur-ing small and large storms.Are any car or truck wastesbeing carried away bystormwater?Oil stains on your drivewayand outdoor spills of antifreeze,Common Sources of Stormwater PollutantsPollutant Common sourcesSilt, sand, and clay particles and other debris Construction sites; bare spots in lawns and gar-dens; wastewater from washing cars and truckson driveways or parking lots; unprotectedstreambanks; farm fieldsNutrients Overused or spilled fertilizers, pet waste, live-stock manure, grass clippings and leaves left onstreets and sidewalks; leaves burned in ditchesDisease organisms Pet waste, livestock manure and garbageHydrocarbons Car and truck exhaust; leaks and spills of oil andgas; burning leaves and garbagePesticides Pesticides overapplied or applied before a rain-storm; spills and leaksMetals Cars and trucks (brake and tire wear, exhaust);galvanized metal gutters and downspoutsFARM*A*SYST FACT SHEET 17 Page 3brake fluid, and other automo-tive fluids are easily carriedaway by a rainstorm. An oilysheen on runoff from yourdriveway is a sure sign that youneed to be more careful. Pans,carpet scraps and matting cancatch drips. Routine mainte-nance can prevent your carfrom leaking and help identifypotential leaks. If you changeyour own oil, be careful to avoidspills and collect waste oil for re-cycling. Oily car parts and fluidcontainers should be storedwhere rain and runoff cannotreach them. Never dump usedoil, antifreeze, or gasoline downa storm drain, in a ditch, or onthe ground. These wastes willend up in a nearby lake orstream, or they may pollute yourdrinking water.Washing your car in thedriveway creates runoff with-out the help of a rainstorm—your hose provides the water.The dirty, soapy runoff drainsdirectly into storm sewers, car-rying oil and other pollutants asit goes. Try washing your car onthe lawn or, better yet, take it toa commercial car wash thatsends its dirty water to a waste-water treatment plant.Are fertilizers, pesticides andother chemical products storedoutside the reach ofstormwater?Most households store lawnand garden products such asweed killers, insect killers andfertilizers. If stormwater orfloodwater reaches theseproducts, it can transport theminto surface water and ground-water. Pool chemicals, salt forwater softeners and a widevariety of other chemical prod-ucts also can cause trouble ifthey are washed away. Keepingsuch products in waterproofcontainers and storing them uphigh and out of the potentialpath of runoff or flood water isimportant. You can avoid stor-age problems by buying onlywhat you need for a particulartask and then using up theproduct.Do you use and handlechemicals safely?Safe storage is only the firststep in preventing contami-nated runoff. When mixingchemicals, try to do it within a30 feetProperty boundaryStorm sewerDirection of surfacerunoff/stream flowRoosevelt HighwayThomas AvenueBald Hill RoadStreamFigure 2. Example map showing direction of surface runoff and stream flow.Page 4 FARM*A*SYST FACT SHEET 17washtub so spills will be con-tained. If you spill chemicals,act quickly to contain and cleanup the spill. This is particularlyimportant on paved surfaces.Using more pesticides or fertil-izers than you need invitesproblems. Always read and fol-low label directions. Timing ofapplications is also important.For instance, some pesticidesrequire moisture for activation.If the soil is dry, some water inthe form of rainfall or irrigationfollowing application will beneeded to activate the pesticide.On the other hand, if the soil isat or near saturation, any addi-tional moisture has the poten-tial to leave the area as runoff.Runoff can occur under any soilmoisture conditions during aheavy rain. DO NOT apply pes-ticides and chemicals if heavyrain is expected within 24hours.Do you use road salt or otherdeicing products?Road salt and deicers even-tually wash off paved surfacesand end up in the soil or water.From your driveway or side-walk, salt can readily flow tostorm drains and into streamsand lakes. Salt in high concen-trations is harmful to wildlifeand plants. Use less to keepthese chemicals out of naturalsystems. If you use too much,clean up the excess. Considerusing sand or kitty litter as lesstoxic alternatives. Chipping iceoff pavement is an even betterchoice, although care must betaken not to damage the pave-ment surface.How are animal wastes keptfrom becoming a pollutionproblem?Droppings from dogs andcats and from other commonlykept animals like exotic birds,rabbits, goats and chickens canbe troublesome in two ways.First, pet and livestock wastescontain nutrients that can pro-mote the growth of algae if theyenter streams and lakes. Second,animal droppings can be asource of disease. The risk ofstormwater contamination in-creases if pet wastes are allowedto accumulate in animal pen ar-eas or left on sidewalks, streets,or driveways where runoff cancarry them to storm sewers orsurface water. Droppings that arenot mixed with litter or othermaterials should be flusheddown the toilet. Or, if local lawsallow it, droppings may either beburied or wrapped and put inthe garbage for disposal.Are yard and garden wasteskept out of stormwater?If left on sidewalks, drive-ways, or roads, grass clippingsand other yard wastes willwash away with the next storm(Figure 1). Although leaves andother plant debris accumulatenaturally in streams and lakes,homeowners can contributeexcess amounts of plant matter,especially in areas with manyhomes. This can lead to waterthat is unattractive or greenwith algae and unsuitable forrecreation. Bacterial degrada-tion of these organic wastes cansignificantly reduce oxygen lev-els in shallow waters duringsummer months, leading to fishkills. Avoiding the problem iseasy—sweep clippings backonto the grass, and compostleaves and garden wastes onyour property to recycle nutri-ents (Figure 3).Figure 3. Sweeping grass clippings onto the lawn and composting help to keepyard waste out of storm sewers.FARM*A*SYST FACT SHEET 17 Page 52. Landscaping and SiteManagement to ControlRunoffSome stormwater risks canbe controlled by makingchanges to buildings, pavedsurfaces, the landscape and soilsurfaces. This section reviewssome easily addressed prob-lems, as well as major land-scape alterations you mightwant to consider.Are there areas of bare soilaround your home?Areas of bare soil often existin vegetable and flower gar-dens, on newly seeded lawnsand around construction pro-jects. Even on gentle slopes,water from rain and snow canremove large amounts of soiland carry it to wetlands, rivers,and lakes. Planting grass orother ground covers is the bestway to stop erosion. Putting astraw or chip mulch over gar-dens or newly seeded areas willslow erosion. Straw bales, di-version ditches and commer-cially available silt fencesaround construction sites canhelp slow runoff and trap sedi-ment on-site. If you are workingwith a contractor, insist thatprecautions are taken to controlrunoff and erosion during con-struction.Can you eliminate paved sur-faces or install alternatives?Concrete and asphalt roads,driveways, and walkways pre-vent rainwater from soakinginto the ground. When you havethe choice, consider alternativematerials such as gravel or woodchips for walkways. Avoid pav-ing areas such as patios. Whereyou need a more solid surface,consider using a “porous pave-ment” made from interlockingconcrete blocks/pavers or rubbermats that allow spaces for rain-water to seep into the ground. Ifan area must be paved, keep it assmall as possible.Some cities and municipali-ties limit the total paved areaallowed on property. Check withyour planning and zoningdepartment about minimumporous area requirements thatmight exist.Does roof water flow onto pave-ment or grass?Your house roof, like pave-ment, sheds water. If down-spouts from roof gutters emptyonto grassy areas, the water willhave a chance to soak into theground. Aim downspouts awayfrom foundations and pavedsurfaces (Figure 4). For roofswithout gutters, plant grass,spread mulch, or use gravelunder the drip line to preventsoil erosion and increase thesoil’s capacity to absorb water.Consider using cisterns or rainbarrels to catch rainwater forwatering lawns and gardens indry weather.Can you change the layout ofyour landscape to reducerunoff?If possible, take an activerole in planning your sitedesign before home construc-tion begins, taking soils, topo-graphy, and drainage intoconsideration. Many times,alternatives to wide, paveddriveways and sidewalks, andpreserving any natural drainageways will provide economicadvantages to the new home-owner.Figure 4. Roof drainage should be directed to the lawn or a flower bed andaway from the foundation and paved surfaces.Page 6 FARM*A*SYST FACT SHEET 17An essential part ofstormwater management iskeeping water from leavingyour property, or at least slow-ing its flow as much as possible.Many home lawns are sloped toencourage water to run off ontoneighboring property or streets.Instead, you could provide lowareas landscaped with shrubsand flowers to encourage waterto soak into the ground. If youryard is hilly, you can terraceslopes to slow the flow of runoff.If you have a large lot, consider“naturalizing” areas with prairie,woodland, or wetland plants. Ifyour property adjoins a lake orstream, one of the best ways toslow and filter runoff is to leavea buffer strip of thick vegetationalong the waterfront (Figure 5).Good sources for ideas are yourlocal Cooperative Extension andNatural Resources ConservationService.CONTACTS ANDREFERENCESWho to call about stormwatermanagement...Your Natural ResourcesDistrict or Natural ResourcesConservation Service office.Your local University ofNebraska Cooperative Extensionoffice.Nebraska Department ofEnvironmental Quality, P.O. Box48922, Lincoln, NE 68509-8922(402) 471-2186.Figure 5. To help prevent erosion, leave an unmowed buffer strip of thick vegetation along streambanks and lakeshores.Mowing up to the streambankincreases rainfall runoff into the stream.This material is based on worksupported by the Cooperative StateResearch, Education, and ExtensionService U.S. Department of Agri-culture under Agreement No.99-EWQI-1-0524. This project wascoordinated at the Department ofBiological Systems Engineering,Cooperative Extension Division,Institute of Agriculture and NaturalResources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.Nebraska Farm*A*Syst teammembers: Robert Grisso, ExtensionEngineer, Ag Machinery; DeLynnHay, Extension Specialist, WaterResources and Irrigation; Paul Jasa,Extension Engineer; Richard Koelsch,Livestock Bioenvironmental Engineer;Sharon Skipton, Extension Educator;and Wayne Woldt, Extension Bio-environmental Engineer.Technical reviews were providedby: David Shelton, Extension Agricul-tural Engineer; Karen Hansen, Exten-sion Educator; and Elbert Traylor,Nebraska Department of Environ-mental Quality.This publication is based onHome*A*Syst: An Environmental Risk-Assessment Guide for the Homedeveloped by the NationalFarm*A*Syst/Home*A*Syst Pro-gram in cooperation with NRAES,the Northeast Regional AgriculturalEngineering Service; chapter 2,Stormwater Management, writtenby Carl DuPoldt, Natural ResourcesConservation Service and CarolynJohnson, University of WisconsinCooperative Extension. Permissionto use these materials was grantedby the National Farm*A*Syst/Home*A*Syst Office.Printed on recycled paper.Issued January 2000

EC98-795 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’s System for Assessing Water Contamination Fact Sheet 17: Improving Stormwater Management at Residential Sites

UNL | Libraries

University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
Historical Materials from University of 
Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Extension 
1998 
EC98-795 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’s System for Assessing Water 
Contamination Fact Sheet 17: Improving Stormwater 
Management at Residential Sites 
Robert Grisso 
University of Nebraska at Lincoln 
DeLynn Hay 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, dhay1@unl.edu 
Paul J. Jasa 
University of Nebraska at Lincoln, pjasa1@unl.edu 
Richard K. Koelsch 
University of Nebraska - Lincoln, rkoelsch1@unl.edu 
Sharon Skipton 
University of Nebraska–Lincoln, sskipton1@unl.edu 
See next page for additional authors 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/extensionhist 
 Part of the Agriculture Commons, and the Curriculum and Instruction Commons 
Grisso, Robert; Hay, DeLynn; Jasa, Paul J.; Koelsch, Richard K.; Skipton, Sharon; and Woldt, Wayne, 
"EC98-795 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’s System for Assessing Water Contamination Fact Sheet 17: Improving 
Stormwater Management at Residential Sites" (1998). Historical Materials from University of Nebraska-
Lincoln Extension. 1478. 
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/extensionhist/1478 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Extension at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - 
Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Historical Materials from University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension by an 
authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. 
Authors 
Robert Grisso, DeLynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, and Wayne Woldt 
This article is available at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/
extensionhist/1478 
Nebraska’s System for Assessing Water Contamination Risk
University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension EC 98-795-S
Improving Stormwater Management
at Residential Sites
FACT SHEET 17
Stormwater is water from
irrigation, rain or melting snow
that does not soak into the
ground. It flows from rooftops,
over paved areas and bare soil,
and across sloped lawns. As it
flows, this runoff can collect
and transport soil, pet waste,
livestock manure, salt, pesti-
cides, fertilizer, oil and grease,
leaves, litter and other potential
pollutants. A heavy rainstorm
isn’t needed to send pollutants
rushing toward streams, wet-
lands and lakes. A garden hose
alone can supply enough water.
Even if your homesite is not
on a waterfront, natural surface
drainage and constructed storm
drains and sewers convey run-
off from your property to a
nearby body of water or stream.
Contrary to popular belief,
many storm sewers do not
carry stormwater to wastewater
treatment plants (Figure 1).
Polluted stormwater
degrades our lakes, rivers and
wetlands. Soil clouds water and
degrades habitat for fish and
Storm sewer
Direction of
storm sewer
flow
Figure 1. Runoff that flows into storm sewers goes directly to streams and lakes
without treatment.
water plants. Nutrients such as
phosphorus promote the growth
of algae, which crowds out other
aquatic life. Toxic chemicals such
as antifreeze and oil from leaking
cars, carelessly applied pesti-
cides and zinc from galvanized
metal gutters and downspouts
threaten the health of fish and
other aquatic life. Bacteria and
parasites from pet waste can
make nearby lakes and ponds
unsafe for wading and swim-
ming after storms.
As many people have dis-
covered, stormwater can be a
problem closer to home. It can
flow down a poorly sealed well
or an unused well which has
not been properly decommis-
sioned and contaminate drink-
ing water. In areas with porous,
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Elbert C. Dickey, Interim Director of Cooperative Extension, University of Nebraska, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension educational programs abide with the non-discrimination
policies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.
Page 2 FARM*A*SYST FACT SHEET 17
sandy soils, pollutants in runoff
may reach groundwater.
Across the country, public
officials are turning their pollu-
tion control efforts from waste-
water discharges to stormwater
management in urban and rural
areas. Stormwater pollution
cannot be treated in the same
way as water pollution from
discharge pipes, because it
comes from many sources (see
table below). Contaminants are
carried by stormwater from ev-
ery street, parking lot, sidewalk,
driveway, yard, garden and any
other open area. The problem
can be solved only with
everyone’s help.
1. Reducing Pollutants in
Runoff
Stormwater is unavoidable,
but its negative effects can be
reduced by keeping harmful
chemicals and materials out of
the runoff. This section reviews
potential sources of contamina-
tion and offers ways to minimize
them.
Where does stormwater go?
The next time you are home
during a rain (when lightning is
not occurring), head outdoors
with your boots and umbrella
and watch where the rainwater
goes. Or make the best observa-
tion possible from inside your
residence. On a sketch of your
property, draw arrows showing
the direction that stormwater
flows off driveways, rooftops,
sidewalks and yards. A sample
map is shown in Figure 2. Does
water soak into the ground
quickly, or does it puddle in
places and flow off lawns and
driveways? Your soil type affects
water infiltration (soaking into
the ground). As you might
expect, water infiltrates sandy
soil quickly but has a hard time
seeping into fine-grained silt or
clay soils.
Note how far it is to the
nearest storm sewer, ditch, wet-
land, stream, or body of open
water. Note whether runoff
flows onto your land from adja-
cent streets, lands, or
stormwater systems. If you live
at or near the bottom of a hill,
you may have special problems.
Be sure to go out during more
than one rain to get a good un-
derstanding of runoff flow dur-
ing small and large storms.
Are any car or truck wastes
being carried away by
stormwater?
Oil stains on your driveway
and outdoor spills of antifreeze,
Common Sources of Stormwater Pollutants
Pollutant Common sources
Silt, sand, and clay particles and other debris Construction sites; bare spots in lawns and gar-
dens; wastewater from washing cars and trucks
on driveways or parking lots; unprotected
streambanks; farm fields
Nutrients Overused or spilled fertilizers, pet waste, live-
stock manure, grass clippings and leaves left on
streets and sidewalks; leaves burned in ditches
Disease organisms Pet waste, livestock manure and garbage
Hydrocarbons Car and truck exhaust; leaks and spills of oil and
gas; burning leaves and garbage
Pesticides Pesticides overapplied or applied before a rain-
storm; spills and leaks
Metals Cars and trucks (brake and tire wear, exhaust);
galvanized metal gutters and downspouts
FARM*A*SYST FACT SHEET 17 Page 3
brake fluid, and other automo-
tive fluids are easily carried
away by a rainstorm. An oily
sheen on runoff from your
driveway is a sure sign that you
need to be more careful. Pans,
carpet scraps and matting can
catch drips. Routine mainte-
nance can prevent your car
from leaking and help identify
potential leaks. If you change
your own oil, be careful to avoid
spills and collect waste oil for re-
cycling. Oily car parts and fluid
containers should be stored
where rain and runoff cannot
reach them. Never dump used
oil, antifreeze, or gasoline down
a storm drain, in a ditch, or on
the ground. These wastes will
end up in a nearby lake or
stream, or they may pollute your
drinking water.
Washing your car in the
driveway creates runoff with-
out the help of a rainstorm—
your hose provides the water.
The dirty, soapy runoff drains
directly into storm sewers, car-
rying oil and other pollutants as
it goes. Try washing your car on
the lawn or, better yet, take it to
a commercial car wash that
sends its dirty water to a waste-
water treatment plant.
Are fertilizers, pesticides and
other chemical products stored
outside the reach of
stormwater?
Most households store lawn
and garden products such as
weed killers, insect killers and
fertilizers. If stormwater or
floodwater reaches these
products, it can transport them
into surface water and ground-
water. Pool chemicals, salt for
water softeners and a wide
variety of other chemical prod-
ucts also can cause trouble if
they are washed away. Keeping
such products in waterproof
containers and storing them up
high and out of the potential
path of runoff or flood water is
important. You can avoid stor-
age problems by buying only
what you need for a particular
task and then using up the
product.
Do you use and handle
chemicals safely?
Safe storage is only the first
step in preventing contami-
nated runoff. When mixing
chemicals, try to do it within a
30 feet
Property boundary
Storm sewer
Direction of surface
runoff/stream flow
Roosevelt Highway
T
hom
as A
venue
Bald Hill Road
Stream
Figure 2. Example map showing direction of surface runoff and stream flow.
Page 4 FARM*A*SYST FACT SHEET 17
washtub so spills will be con-
tained. If you spill chemicals,
act quickly to contain and clean
up the spill. This is particularly
important on paved surfaces.
Using more pesticides or fertil-
izers than you need invites
problems. Always read and fol-
low label directions. Timing of
applications is also important.
For instance, some pesticides
require moisture for activation.
If the soil is dry, some water in
the form of rainfall or irrigation
following application will be
needed to activate the pesticide.
On the other hand, if the soil is
at or near saturation, any addi-
tional moisture has the poten-
tial to leave the area as runoff.
Runoff can occur under any soil
moisture conditions during a
heavy rain. DO NOT apply pes-
ticides and chemicals if heavy
rain is expected within 24
hours.
Do you use road salt or other
deicing products?
Road salt and deicers even-
tually wash off paved surfaces
and end up in the soil or water.
From your driveway or side-
walk, salt can readily flow to
storm drains and into streams
and lakes. Salt in high concen-
trations is harmful to wildlife
and plants. Use less to keep
these chemicals out of natural
systems. If you use too much,
clean up the excess. Consider
using sand or kitty litter as less
toxic alternatives. Chipping ice
off pavement is an even better
choice, although care must be
taken not to damage the pave-
ment surface.
How are animal wastes kept
from becoming a pollution
problem?
Droppings from dogs and
cats and from other commonly
kept animals like exotic birds,
rabbits, goats and chickens can
be troublesome in two ways.
First, pet and livestock wastes
contain nutrients that can pro-
mote the growth of algae if they
enter streams and lakes. Second,
animal droppings can be a
source of disease. The risk of
stormwater contamination in-
creases if pet wastes are allowed
to accumulate in animal pen ar-
eas or left on sidewalks, streets,
or driveways where runoff can
carry them to storm sewers or
surface water. Droppings that are
not mixed with litter or other
materials should be flushed
down the toilet. Or, if local laws
allow it, droppings may either be
buried or wrapped and put in
the garbage for disposal.
Are yard and garden wastes
kept out of stormwater?
If left on sidewalks, drive-
ways, or roads, grass clippings
and other yard wastes will
wash away with the next storm
(Figure 1). Although leaves and
other plant debris accumulate
naturally in streams and lakes,
homeowners can contribute
excess amounts of plant matter,
especially in areas with many
homes. This can lead to water
that is unattractive or green
with algae and unsuitable for
recreation. Bacterial degrada-
tion of these organic wastes can
significantly reduce oxygen lev-
els in shallow waters during
summer months, leading to fish
kills. Avoiding the problem is
easy—sweep clippings back
onto the grass, and compost
leaves and garden wastes on
your property to recycle nutri-
ents (Figure 3).
Figure 3. Sweeping grass clippings onto the lawn and composting help to keep
yard waste out of storm sewers.
FARM*A*SYST FACT SHEET 17 Page 5
2. Landscaping and Site
Management to Control
Runoff
Some stormwater risks can
be controlled by making
changes to buildings, paved
surfaces, the landscape and soil
surfaces. This section reviews
some easily addressed prob-
lems, as well as major land-
scape alterations you might
want to consider.
Are there areas of bare soil
around your home?
Areas of bare soil often exist
in vegetable and flower gar-
dens, on newly seeded lawns
and around construction pro-
jects. Even on gentle slopes,
water from rain and snow can
remove large amounts of soil
and carry it to wetlands, rivers,
and lakes. Planting grass or
other ground covers is the best
way to stop erosion. Putting a
straw or chip mulch over gar-
dens or newly seeded areas will
slow erosion. Straw bales, di-
version ditches and commer-
cially available silt fences
around construction sites can
help slow runoff and trap sedi-
ment on-site. If you are working
with a contractor, insist that
precautions are taken to control
runoff and erosion during con-
struction.
Can you eliminate paved sur-
faces or install alternatives?
Concrete and asphalt roads,
driveways, and walkways pre-
vent rainwater from soaking
into the ground. When you have
the choice, consider alternative
materials such as gravel or wood
chips for walkways. Avoid pav-
ing areas such as patios. Where
you need a more solid surface,
consider using a “porous pave-
ment” made from interlocking
concrete blocks/pavers or rubber
mats that allow spaces for rain-
water to seep into the ground. If
an area must be paved, keep it as
small as possible.
Some cities and municipali-
ties limit the total paved area
allowed on property. Check with
your planning and zoning
department about minimum
porous area requirements that
might exist.
Does roof water flow onto pave-
ment or grass?
Your house roof, like pave-
ment, sheds water. If down-
spouts from roof gutters empty
onto grassy areas, the water will
have a chance to soak into the
ground. Aim downspouts away
from foundations and paved
surfaces (Figure 4). For roofs
without gutters, plant grass,
spread mulch, or use gravel
under the drip line to prevent
soil erosion and increase the
soil’s capacity to absorb water.
Consider using cisterns or rain
barrels to catch rainwater for
watering lawns and gardens in
dry weather.
Can you change the layout of
your landscape to reduce
runoff?
If possible, take an active
role in planning your site
design before home construc-
tion begins, taking soils, topo-
graphy, and drainage into
consideration. Many times,
alternatives to wide, paved
driveways and sidewalks, and
preserving any natural drainage
ways will provide economic
advantages to the new home-
owner.
Figure 4. Roof drainage should be directed to the lawn or a flower bed and
away from the foundation and paved surfaces.
Page 6 FARM*A*SYST FACT SHEET 17
An essential part of
stormwater management is
keeping water from leaving
your property, or at least slow-
ing its flow as much as possible.
Many home lawns are sloped to
encourage water to run off onto
neighboring property or streets.
Instead, you could provide low
areas landscaped with shrubs
and flowers to encourage water
to soak into the ground. If your
yard is hilly, you can terrace
slopes to slow the flow of runoff.
If you have a large lot, consider
“naturalizing” areas with prairie,
woodland, or wetland plants. If
your property adjoins a lake or
stream, one of the best ways to
slow and filter runoff is to leave
a buffer strip of thick vegetation
along the waterfront (Figure 5).
Good sources for ideas are your
local Cooperative Extension and
Natural Resources Conservation
Service.
CONTACTS AND
REFERENCES
Who to call about stormwater
management...
Your Natural Resources
District or Natural Resources
Conservation Service office.
Your local University of
Nebraska Cooperative Extension
office.
Nebraska Department of
Environmental Quality, P.O. Box
48922, Lincoln, NE 68509-8922
(402) 471-2186.
Figure 5. To help prevent erosion, leave an unmowed buffer strip of thick vegetation along streambanks and lakeshores.
Mowing up to the streambank
increases rainfall runoff into the stream.
This material is based on work
supported by the Cooperative State
Research, Education, and Extension
Service U.S. Department of Agri-
culture under Agreement No.
99-EWQI-1-0524. This project was
coordinated at the Department of
Biological Systems Engineering,
Cooperative Extension Division,
Institute of Agriculture and Natural
Resources, University of Nebraska-
Lincoln.
Nebraska Farm*A*Syst team
members: Robert Grisso, Extension
Engineer, Ag Machinery; DeLynn
Hay, Extension Specialist, Water
Resources and Irrigation; Paul Jasa,
Extension Engineer; Richard Koelsch,
Livestock Bioenvironmental Engineer;
Sharon Skipton, Extension Educator;
and Wayne Woldt, Extension Bio-
environmental Engineer.
Technical reviews were provided
by: David Shelton, Extension Agricul-
tural Engineer; Karen Hansen, Exten-
sion Educator; and Elbert Traylor,
Nebraska Department of Environ-
mental Quality.
This publication is based on
Home*A*Syst: An Environmental Risk-
Assessment Guide for the Home
developed by the National
Farm*A*Syst/Home*A*Syst Pro-
gram in cooperation with NRAES,
the Northeast Regional Agricultural
Engineering Service; chapter 2,
Stormwater Management, written
by Carl DuPoldt, Natural Resources
Conservation Service and Carolyn
Johnson, University of Wisconsin
Cooperative Extension. Permission
to use these materials was granted
by the National Farm*A*Syst/
Home*A*Syst Office.
Printed on recycled paper.
Issued January 2000


https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2474&amp;context=extensionhist

EC98-795 FarmASyst Nebraska’s System for Assessing Water Contamination Fact Sheet 17: Improving Stormwater Management at Residential Sites

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